This Is How Tesla Made 5,000 Model 3s in a Week

Many said Tesla founder Elon Musk‘s challenge to produce 5,000 Tesla Model 3s by the end of June could not be done but they were wrong, sort of. The milestone is quite an achievement for the electric vehicle maker but, according to reports, it was at the expense of workers’ sanity and comfort. Automotive media outlet Carscoops writes that the accomplishment led to a few negative factors that left sour tastes in the Tesla factory workers mouths. Besides Elon’s vocal frustrations when things went wrong, workers were apparently required to work often 12 hours a day, and 6 days a week. The extension was so aggressive that their attendance policy had to be rewritten, with a revocation in the clause that stated a one-week notice would be given before necessary overtime was assigned. With the added “tent” that was created just to facilitate the expected increase in output, workers were taken — some voluntarily — off of S and X line production to work on Model 3s; this strategy amongst the others thus led to 20-percent of the final Model 3 production numbers. However as a result, 800 Model S cars were behind schedule and delayed in their painting, because the 3s were prioritized over the S to meet the challenge. Tesla states however there is no disruption to the full-sized sedan and SUV production rates. Do you feel this aggressive strategy was worth the headache and trouble of its workers, and will Tesla keep up this production rate to create an expected 6,000 units per week by August? Watch the 5,000 units roll in and out of the Fremont facility in the timelapse video below and be sure to read the email exchange between Elon Musk and Tesla’s disgruntled saboteur.